15. Siege of Selene

PROLOGUE | STOLEN MOON | WANING CRESCENT | SACRED SANDS | FALLEN SELENE | EPILOGUE

Siege of Selene

The Trionfi have taken cover in Skyvale. The ballista are being set up as well as catapults in the field. The moat is keeping them from the walls for now. The Polybolos has been set up in a building in Skyvale and is firing rapidly. John ducks as a volley of iron bolts begins to fly at them hitting the walls and taking out some Selene soldiers.

The bolts are devastating to the soldiers and to the wall. Everyone recovers and the King orders a volley of fire arrows at Skyvale. John and other soldiers fight along the wall as Trionfi attempt to scale the walls with grapples. They remove the grapples but there are many. Archers are firing flaming arrows at soldiers who have crossed the bridges over the moat though they can go no further as the drawbridges were raised. The ballista have also begun to fire grapples at the wall allowing for soldiers to climb up. Donofrey looks on from the field as the Trebuchet is nearly assembled. The King shouts to the soldiers below who begin to fire Onagers with rocks in them.

Aletheia enters Simon's chambers and begins to look for the Artifacts.The King instructs the Archers to aim for the Trebuchet. Flaming arrows hit the wooden structure but it isn't effective as soldiers with shields put out the flames. Several arrows hit the Jester but they bounce off of him as he adjusts the Trebuchet. The Marshal then states that it is not enough and instructs the Onagers to fire another volley of stones. The stones only bounce off the Trebuchet doing minimal damage as it is loaded with a large boulder.

John believes that the Artifacts are their only hope as he and the King continue to repel grappling hooks from climbing soldiers. Aletheia finds the Artifacts as three glowing coins in Sam's lab. She grabs them as the Trebuchet fires. The boulder hits the top of the curtain wall, destroying it and throwing many of Selene's forces in all directions including John and the King.

John is awoken by Aletheia. He was thrown by the blast but he and the King were not hit by the boulder. He and the King are both bleeding though not seriously injured but the Marshal has been killed. Part of the wall is broken but still too high to breach with the moat. Aletheia embraces John and helps him up before showing him the Artifacts, three gold coins. They are unnaturally bright in their radiance. John takes a coin and looks around. He then grabs a sack of seed nearby and looks at the notes. Aiming the coin he buries his hand into the seed and state that he hopes this works to make the Black Powder. The seed turns into black beads and the coin shatters in his hand. He then tells everyone to grab a pot.

Donofrey is adjusting the Trebuchet again as the soldiers are beginning to load another projectile into the bowl. The soldiers shout for cover as pots begin to break around them releasing a large amount of black powder all around the Catapult. Donofrey is confused by this until another volley of flaming arrows is released toward them. Donofrey looks up and yells for his men to pull the lever. The King and Aletheia watch as the Trebuchet erupts in a ball of fire and debris flies high into the air. John and company see another small projectile sail over them but become occupied by the soldiers coming over the wall.The archers are getting overwhelmed as the Ballista on the bridge continue to fire at the wall. The King reminds them that it isn't over and Aletheia grabs another coin and tells the King to release the drawbridge on her signal. The King is confused at this but Aletheia says to trust him as she runs up the steps. The King calls for her but John follows close behind her. John clears a path up the steps and Aletheia runs to the top of the wall with the drawbridge below them. The King has reached the drawbridge release.

John kills another Trionfi as Aletheia runs to the drawbridge. She uses the coin to turn the metal on the drawbridge into the dark matter. She yells to the King to drop the bridge as a soldier begins to climb over. The drawbridge drops pulling the soldier with it before he can swing at Aletheia. The drawbridge slams down and the black metal hits the flaming stone bridge created by the fire arrows. The bridge explodes completely sending soldiers into the air and moat near the gate. The Ballistas fall into the moat as well.

After two grand firework spectacles and without a bridge the soldiers retreat. John tells Aletheia, in awe that she had a good plan. John says that that should hold them off for awhile. People begin to peer from their homes. They believe it is over for now until they hear someone cry out. They turn to see the Black Jester coming out of debris in the square behind them.

The Jester had launched himself directly into the city with the last shot of the Trebuchet. He has taken down two soldiers and states that he has come for Selene.

The True Jester

Arrows are fired at the Jester but they bounce off of him. He raises his arm to show that his hand is completely diamond as he begins to slaughter the soldiers.

John and Aletheia look on in shock from the curtain wall. The Jester continues to kill the soldiers of Selene until he is finally hit with a blow to the back with a broadsword. The Black Jester stops and turns to see the King with a broken sword. The Jester engages him stating that he has come for his kingdom and his daughter. The King attacks him again but his sword is deflected and the Jester strikes him, knocking the King to the ground.

John calls out his name, Donofrey, and tells him to stop. Donofrey recognizes John and states that he was at the Ruined Keep. John confirms that he was at the Keep. He helped rescue the Princess and stop Gillecome.

Donofrey states that Gillecome was a fool. John agrees that he was a fool but adds that Donofrey would also be a fool if he were to kill the King now. Donofrey stays his hand and faces John. John continues by stating that Donofrey is no fool. If he wanted to, he could kill the King and take over Selene right now but what would that be worth. But earning the title of King would mean something and demand the respect of all of Selene. Even beyond Vailen, Istoria, even Meridian. Donofrey looks to Aletheia and is intrigued now. He asks what he means.

People have begun to look upon the spectacle from their homes. John reminds him and everyone that the original purpose of the High Champions was to protect the Kingdom and if so defend it. If the High Champion is killed in a one on one fight then the Kingdom has fallen. Donofrey says he has already killed the High Champion of Selene and there is no one to oppose him.

John says that he is the High Champion of Selene. He goads Donofrey that if he kills the King now everyone will know that the invincible man was afraid to face the High Champion honorably in battle. Altetheia gasps at this. Donofrey confirms that John is the High Champion. Donofrey states that he fears nothing, he cannot be harmed by whatever power he possesses. He laughs and states how wonderful it will be to prove to Aletheia that he is superior and worthy of her. Citizens of Selene stand by witnessing this spectacle in the square. Donofrey addresses them asking the citizens to watch. Aletheia begins to ask what John is doing. He looks at her and gives her a nod as he slips her the coin.

Donofrey ignores the King and John comes down to face The Black Jester. John has the shield from earlier and a sword from Selene. Immediately Donofrey attacks John though he is capable enough with a sword to hold his own. The Jester is not a particularly good swordsman and relies heavily on his invulnerability. He becomes increasingly brazen and arrogant, proclaiming that John has no hope of winning. The tip of John's sword breaks. Though he cannot damage him with a sword, John is able to knock Donofrey off of his feet several times.

This enrages him and makes the Jester more careless as the battle goes on. The cross guard to Johns sword breaks. John tries to occupy his attention by taunting him. He notices that Donofrey's breathing has become labored and mocks him asking if he is getting tired. This works well enough that the Black Jester doesn't see he has stepped into an area full of the Dark naphtha Matter that Aletheia has spread. She throws a torch and pulls John behind a pillar as the Jester is engulfed in a burst of fire. They peer behind their cover to see the Black Jester laughing as he pulls his mask off revealing that he his still unharmed.